The NSG waiver for India involved three days of hectic and tough negotiations with both the proponent and skeptic countries sticking to their positions but finally reaching a common ground on Saturday morning after US prodding and deft diplomacy by New Delhi.

On the very first day of the meeting of the 45-nation grouping on Thursday, there were demands for changes in the revised draft that the US had prepared following failure to achieve consensus at the August 21-22 parleys.

As soon as the NSG reconvened for the second day, at 9.30 am (1 am IST) on Friday, work started on redrafting of the waiver to accommodate the concerns of the skeptic countries while ensuring that no clauses were incorporated which would bind India.

The grouping broke for short recesses during which the US and other countries strongly backing the initiative held intense discussions with those countries which had reservations particularly with regard to testing and transfer of enrichment and reprocessing technologies to India.

China, which had remained silent so far, too raised questions over some aspects of the draft.

The major turning point came with the issuance of the statement by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee in which he talked about India's abiding commitment to strengthening the nonproliferation system and unilateral moratorium on nuclear testing.

That statement went down well among the NSG members including the skeptic countries who saw a lot of their concerns being addressed through it.

The revised draft was redrafted yesterday afternoon and sent for approval from the US in consultation with India. The draft came back at 1 am (4.30 am IST today). Till then, the diplomats were wailing time.

... contd.